Deforestation in Brazil rises almost 30 per cent

SAO PAULO — The Brazilian government says that deforestation of the Amazon rain forest increased almost 30
per cent
over the past 12 months.

The National Space Research Institute says on its
website
Wednesday that 7,989 square
kilometres
of rain forest were destroyed by loggers, farmers and cattle ranchers between August 2015 and July 2016. During the previous 12-year period 6,207 square
kilometres
were destroyed.

The institute did not mention forest fires and defines deforestation as the destruction of the primary forest cover through logging and land clearing.